Clinical Psychology Program's Training in Multiculturism and Diversity
The LSU Clinical Psychology program views training in individual and cultural diversity as an essential component of training in clinical psychology. This commitment is shared by the American Psychological Association, which requires for accreditation that all clinical psychology programs provide training in individual and cultural diversity and that accredited programs evaluate that each student achieves competency in the following areas:
- Demonstrate an understanding of how their own personal/cultural history, attitudes, and biases may affect how they understand and interact with people different from themselves.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the current theoretical and empirical knowledge base as it relates to addressing diversity in all professional activities including research, training, supervision/consultation, and service.
- Demonstrate the ability to integrate awareness and knowledge of individual and cultural differences, including intersectionality, in articulating an approach to working effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
- Demonstrate the ability to work effectively with individuals whose group membership, demographic characteristics, or worldviews differ with their own.
In addition, State of Louisiana Board of Examiners in Psychology recognizes the importance of continuing training in issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion by requiring that all licensed psychologists by state statute must obtain at least 2 hours of required continuing professional development within the area of multiculturalism or diversity: LA Administrative Code, Title 46, Part LXIII (updated May 2023): S803 Requirements.
As a result of this commitment, training in multiculturalism and diversity is a critical part of all aspects of the training in the clinical psychology doctoral program.
Coursework
- Our faculty strive to integrate training in multiculturalism and diversity across all courses. Course syllabi include explicit statements regarding how each course includes this training.
- PSYC 7040 Sociocultural Basis of Behavior, a course with an explicit focus on didactic instruction working with diverse clients and theories of culturally competent delivery of psychological services. This required course is typically taken in the 2nd year of the program.
Research Experiences
- Students have many opportunities to gain research experience with diverse samples. Several faculty members conduct research that is explicitly focused on race/ethnicity, gender, and/or gender identity. Please see the Clinical Psychology Program’s Diversity Related Research Page for some representative examples of recent research in this area by our faculty and students.
- Students must address issues of diversity in their masters’ thesis and dissertation projects and must adequately attend to these issues in their oral defense in order to pass their thesis and dissertation defenses.
Practicum Experiences
- Students receive experience conducting clinical work with individuals from historically underrepresented groups (including but not limited to diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, socioeconomic status) during practica, during which students’ attitudes and approaches to working with diverse clients are monitored and discussed during supervision meetings. Students must demonstrate competence in addressing issues related to multiculturalism and diversity in their practicum performance in order to pass this required course.
Additional Training
- Each year prior to internship, both students and faculty must document at least one hour of training in a multiculturalism/diversity related topic that is approved by the Director of Clinical Training.
- Multiple training opportunities for additional training in multiculturalism/diversity related topics are offered throughout the year through the clinical area seminar series.